Supporting an access to a destination network via a wireless access network

ABSTRACT

For supporting an access to a destination network by a mobile device via a wireless access network, the mobile device generates a predetermined request, which is addressed to a connectivity test server in the destination network. The predetermined request is transmitted to the wireless access network. In case the predetermined request reaches the connectivity test server, it generates a predetermined response and transmits it to the mobile device via the wireless access network. The mobile device determines whether a response to the predetermined request is received from the wireless access network and whether a received response corresponds to the predetermined response.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending patent application Ser.No. 14/585,793 filed on Dec. 30, 2014, which is a continuation ofco-pending patent application Ser. No. 13/352,649 filed on Jan. 18,2012, which is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 12/224,453filed on Feb. 12, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,199,657, and is claimingdomestic priority under all applicable sections of 35 U.S.C. §120, whichin turn is a U.S. National Stage of International Application NumberPCT/IB2006/050651 filed on Mar. 2, 2006 which was published in Englishon Sep. 7, 2007 under International Publication Number WO 2007/099414.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to methods of supporting an access to adestination network by a mobile device via a wireless access network.The invention relates equally to a corresponding mobile device, to acorresponding connectivity test server, to a corresponding system, tocorresponding software codes and to corresponding software programproducts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wireless access network, like a wireless local access network (WLAN),may be accessed by a mobile device for making use of services providedby the wireless access network. Some wireless access networks mayprovide an unlimited access. Other wireless access networks may requestan authentication of a mobile device before enabling an access, forinstance in order to be able to charge for a provided service. Stillother wireless access networks may provide an access only to mobiledevices of a selected group. A service that may be provided by awireless access network, among others, is a connection to the Internetor to some other network.

Some mobile devices comprise a “search for WLAN” functionality, whichallows a user to connect to any available WLAN without having apreconfigured profile. In mobile terminals Nokia 9500 and 9300i, forinstance, this functionality is called Easy WLAN. Some devices mightalso implement this functionality implicitly and join to previouslyunknown networks automatically, if none of the preconfigured networksare available.

When a user selects the “Search for WLAN” functionality or when suchfunctionality is used automatically, and the mobile device discovers aWLAN which is not known to the mobile device so far, however, the mobiledevice may still lack important information.

For instance, the mobile device does not know the connectivity that isprovided by the new connection. A user may desire to connect to theglobal Internet making use of the WLAN, but the WLAN might provide, forinstance, only a limited Internet access or only an access to anenterprise intranet.

Further, in many public WLANs, the user has to perform a browserauthentication in order to get access to the network. This is sometimesreferred to as the Universal Access Method (UAM). The user may entersome Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and a browser sends a HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTP) requests to the WLAN. An access controller ofthe WLAN intercepts, or hi-jacks, the HTTP session and presents a loginpage to the user. The user logs on by filling in the fields on the loginpage.

When such a browser authentication is used, the mobile device does notknow when the user has successfully completed the browserauthentication. As a result, the middleware of the mobile device is notable to indicate the availability of the new connection to theapplication, to a Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) client or to a virtualprivate network (VPN) client requesting the access at the correct time.If the new connection is indicated to be available before theauthentication phase has been completed, then the connectivity of theapplication, the mobile IP or the VPN client will be unnecessarilymeddled, possibly leading to a connection failure.

Further, after joining a new WLAN, the mobile device does not know yetwhether or not browser authentication is required. This makes itdifficult to decide whether to save the connection for future use. Itmight not be desirable to save the connection for future use, if theauthentication information is missing.

Further, when the user is using the browser, the mobile device does notknow whether the user is just generally browsing or performing browserauthentication to a WLAN. Therefore, the mobile device is not able tohelp the user with the browser authentication, for example by“recording” the browser authentication as a script and playing it backon the next connection.

Mobile devices that support several network access technologies maymoreover use different connection methods to connect to a destination ortarget network, like the public Internet, a private network such as anenterprise intranet or an operator service network.

A mobile device may reach the Internet, for instance, via a WCDMAnetwork or via some WLAN. When establishing a connection to a particulardestination network, the mobile device could automatically select thebest available connection method. Once a connection to the destinationnetwork has been established, the mobile device could further roamautomatically between the connection methods to ensure that always thebest available connection method is used. Such a roaming can beperformed on an application-level or on a network-level. For anapplication-level roaming, the mobile device does not require supportfrom the network. A network-level roaming, in contrast, requires somenetwork support.

Usually, it only makes sense to roam automatically between connectionsthat connect to the same destination network, like the Internet. Whendiscovering a WLAN, which is unknown to the mobile device, with the“Search for WLAN” functionality, the mobile device does not know theconnectivity provided by the new connection. Therefore, the connectioncannot easily be used for roaming. The roaming decision is also rendereddifficult, since the mobile device does not know whether browserauthentication is required when joining a new WLAN.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a mobile device with information about a currentlevel of connectivity when trying to access a destination network via awireless access network.

A first method of supporting an access to a destination network by amobile device via a wireless access network is proposed. The methodcomprises at the mobile device generating at least one predeterminedrequest, which predetermined request is addressed to a connectivity testserver in the destination network, and transmitting the at least onepredetermined request to the wireless access network. The method furthercomprises at the mobile device determining whether a response to the atleast one predetermined request is received from the wireless accessnetwork and whether a received response corresponds to a predeterminedresponse which is known to be provided by the connectivity test serverin case the connectivity test server is reached by the at least onepredetermined request.

Moreover, a second method of supporting an access to a destinationnetwork by a mobile device via a wireless access network is proposed.The method comprises at a connectivity test server in the destinationnetwork receiving at least one predetermined request from a mobiledevice via the wireless access network. The at least one predeterminedrequest is defined specifically for enabling a mobile device to testwhether a connection to the destination network has been established.The method further comprises at the connectivity test server generatinga predetermined response to the at least one received predeterminedrequest and transmitting the predetermined response to the mobile devicevia the wireless access network.

Moreover, a mobile device supporting an access to a destination networkvia a wireless access network is proposed. The mobile device comprisesprocessing means adapted to generate at least one predetermined request,which predetermined request is addressed to a connectivity test serverin the destination network, and to provide the at least onepredetermined request for transmission to the wireless access network.The mobile device further comprises processing means adapted todetermine whether a response to a transmitted at least one predeterminedrequest is received from the wireless access network and whether areceived response corresponds to a predetermined response which is knownto be provided by the connectivity test server in case the connectivitytest server is reached by the at least one predetermined request.

The processing means can be realized in hardware and/or in software. Themay comprise for instance corresponding software code and a processorexecuting this software code. Alternatively, they could be realized forinstance by a circuit which is integrated in a chip.

Moreover, a connectivity test server supporting an access to adestination network by a mobile device via a wireless access network isproposed. The connectivity test server comprises processing meansadapted to receive at least one predetermined request from a mobiledevice via the wireless access network. The at least one predeterminedrequest is defined specifically for enabling a mobile device to testwhether a connection to the destination network has been established.The connectivity test server further comprises processing means adaptedto generate a predetermined response to at least one receivedpredetermined request and to provide the predetermined response fortransmission to the mobile device via the wireless access network.

The processing means can be realized again in hardware and/or insoftware. The may comprise for instance corresponding software code anda processor executing this software code. Alternatively, they could berealized for instance by a circuit which is integrated in a chip.

Moreover, a communication system is proposed, which comprises theproposed mobile device and the proposed connectivity test server.

Moreover, a first software code for supporting an access to adestination network by a mobile device via a wireless access network isproposed. When being executed in a processor of the mobile device, thesoftware code generates at least one predetermined request, whichpredetermined request is addressed to a connectivity test server in thedestination network, and provides the at least one predetermined requestfor transmission to the wireless access network. Further, it determineswhether a response to the at least one predetermined request is receivedfrom the wireless access network and whether a received responsecorresponds to a predetermined response which is known to be provided bythe connectivity test server in case the connectivity test server isreached by the at least one predetermined request.

Moreover, a second software code for supporting an access to adestination network by a mobile device via a wireless access network isproposed. When being executed in a processor of a connectivity testserver in the destination network, the software code receives at leastone predetermined request from a mobile device via the wireless accessnetwork. The at least one predetermined request is defined specificallyfor enabling a mobile device to test whether a connection to thedestination network has been established. Further, the software codegenerates a predetermined response to the at least one receivedpredetermined request and provides the predetermined response fortransmission to the mobile device via the wireless access network.

Finally, a readable medium is proposed, in which the first or the secondproposed software code is stored. The readable medium can be forinstance a separate memory device, a memory for implementation in amobile device or a connectivity test server, respectively, that can beaccessed by a processor for executing the stored software code, or amore comprehensive module for implementation in a mobile device or aconnectivity test server, respectively, etc.

The invention proceeds from the idea that a mobile device desiring toaccess a destination network via a wireless access network could first‘ping’ a test service in the destination network, which would respondwith a well-known response. The destination network can be inparticular, though not exclusively, the Internet.

It is an advantage of the invention that it provides fast information toa mobile device on whether there is a connection to the destinationnetwork via the wireless access network or whether the wireless accessnetwork blocks the access to the destination network, either temporarilyor permanently.

Obtaining such information is of particular advantage to a mobiledevice, in case the wireless access network is unknown so far to themobile device, for instance if the wireless access network had beenselected by a user with a “search wireless access network” functionalityoffered by the mobile device.

The reception of a predetermined response to the at least onepredetermined request may be considered to indicate a connection to thedestination network.

If the access to the destination network has been requested by anapplication or a mobile IP or VPN client of the mobile device, thisapplication or client may then be informed about the connection to thedestination network. Thus, the application or client can be informed assoon as possible, but at the same time not too early about theconnection. The latter ensures that it can be avoided that theapplication or client suffers from connection failures.

A connection to the destination network via the wireless access networkmay also be saved for further use. Preferably, a user is first askedwhether the connection is to be saved or not. If the destination networkis the Internet, a connection may be saved for instance by creating anInternet Access Point (IAP).

The connection can also be used for roaming purposes. Applications ormobile IP or VPN clients of the mobile device accessing the destinationnetwork via some other connection may roam automatically to the newconnection for accessing the destination network in response toreception of a predetermined response to the at least one predeterminedrequest, which indicates that the new connection is a connection to thedestination network.

In case another than the predetermined response is received, thisindicates that a connection to the destination network has not beenestablished yet. It may indicate that a user interaction of a user ofthe mobile device with the wireless access network is required as apreceding step. Thus, a user interaction may be initiated. Initiating auser interaction may consist for example simply in presenting thereceived response to a user. A possibly required user interaction couldbe for instance an authentication of a user. In this case, a receivedlogon page could be presented to a user. Alternatively, the wirelessaccess network could require the user for instance simply to accept alegal disclaimer before connectivity is granted.

In case the at least one predetermined request comprises at least twopredetermined requests and a non-predetermined response to a first oneof the at least two predetermined requests indicates a possibly requireduser interaction of a user of the mobile device with the wireless accessnetwork, a second one of the at least two predetermined requests may beretransmitted, for instance periodically. A detection of a predeterminedresponse to the second one of the at least two predetermined requestsmay then be considered as an indication of a successfully completed userinteraction.

During such a user interaction, user actions may be recorded in ascript. The script can then be used for an automatic interaction whenthe wireless access network is to be used again at a later point of timefor accessing the destination network. Preferably, a user is first askedwhether the input for the user interaction is to be recorded. Examplesof the recordable user actions during an authentication procedure, forinstance, include information about the received logon page for futureidentification of the logon page, what data the user enters to differentform fields of the page, which selections the user enters to radiobuttons or drop-down lists, and which submit buttons the user presses.The script may contain several steps, in order to support log-onprocedures where the local access controller presents several log-onrelated pages or forms in sequence.

It is to be understood that an indication whether a user 5 interactionis required and, if applicable, the script, can be saved together withthe connection.

The reason that there is no reception of a predetermined response maybe, for instance, that the wireless access network is a private networkthat allows access only to a selected group of mobile devices, or thatthe wireless access network is a public network requiring authenticationfor which the user of the mobile device is not in possession of therequired authentication information. In both cases, the predeterminedrequests are dropped or intercepted by the wireless access network, andthus no predetermined response is generated and provided.

It may be determined that there is no reception of a predeterminedresponse in case a set timer runs out or in case a user interrupts thewaiting, etc.

The at least one predetermined request may be for instance apredetermined HTTP request and/or a predetermined User Datagram Protocol(UDP) request and/or a predetermined Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)request. The STUN protocol requests and responses are another instanceof the predetermined requests and responses. The STUN protocol isspecified in IETF Request for Comments 3489: “STUN—Simple Traversal ofUser Datagram Protocol (UDP) Through Network Address Translators(NATs)”, March 2003. It is to be understood that other types of requestscould be employed as well.

Some of the above mentioned exemplary embodiments will now be presentedspecifically for HTTP and UDP or TCP messages.

The proposed connectivity test server may be placed in the destinationnetwork, for example in the public Internet. When the server receives arequest over one or multiple TCP or UDP port numbers as defined by aservice provider, it may return an appropriate reply as defined by theservice provider.

A simple HTTP server implemented in the connectivity test server couldreturn for instance a test page that is well known to the mobile device.The purpose of the exchange of predetermined HTTP messages is to let themobile device detect whether there is HTTP access to the Internet orwhether there is an intermediate element that blocks or hi-jacks theHTTP session. In the first case, the well-known page can be successfullyretrieved. In the second case, an access controller of the wirelessaccess network may return no response or some other response than thewell-known response for a browser authentication.

Since the HTTP test allows the mobile device to explicitly know when theuser is performing browser authentication, it is possible to record thefact that browser authentication is required for the connection, asindicated above. This fact can later be used in roaming decisions. Forexample, automatic roaming in the background may not be carried out, ifbrowser authentication is missing, or, depending on the settings of themobile device, the browser may be automatically started to let the userenter the expected credentials. Furthermore, the mobile device couldrecord the browser authentication itself as a “script” so that insubsequent connections, the authentication can be performedautomatically. The “script” is to be understood to be any automationthat either helps the user to perform the logon more easily or thatcompletely automates the logon. For example, the browser can record theinformation that the user enters in the fields of HTML forms and submitbuttons the user clicks.

In addition, at least one other non HTTP based service could respond toa predetermined request by the mobile device with a predeterminedresponse. To obtain a more reliable understanding about the level ofconnectivity, the connectivity test server could provide for instance acouple of UDP or TCP ports for the request/response using standard orproprietary protocols.

Different wireless access networks may employ different firewalls. Somenetworks might admit only HTTP traffic and block all UDP ports and allother TCP ports. Other networks might block only certain protocols butallow some. Therefore, testing with the HTTP port only may give amisleading picture of the nature of the new connection.

By defining another TCP or UDP protocol number, it is possible to testwhether the wireless access network admits non-HTTP traffic to theInternet or whether the local network employs a port-specific firewallthat blocks the TCP or UDP ports. For example, the test might use theIPsec Internet Key Exchange and NAT traversal UDP ports 500 and 4500, inorder to test whether the local network admits VPN connections togateways in the Internet. The purpose of the second test service is tobe able to quickly test whether there is a general connection—not justHTTP access—to the Internet and to detect whether browser authenticationhas been already completed.

For example, when a browser authentication is required, the mobiledevice will still not know when the browser authentication has beencompleted and the connection to the Internet is established. Therefore,a second predetermined request, for example a predetermined UDP request,may be transmitted repeatedly. The UDP requests are dropped by thewireless access network, but only until the browser authentication hasbeen completed. When the browser authentication has been completed, thewireless access network typically adds the Medium Access Control (MAC)address of the mobile device and/or the Internet Protocol (IP) addressof the mobile device to an Access Control List (ACL) in a packet filterfirewall so that the packet filter firewall will start forwarding thetraffic of the mobile terminal to/from the global Internet. When apredetermined UDP response is obtained after an initiated browserauthentication, the mobile terminal will thus know that the browserauthentication has been completed.

It is also possible to define an extensible connectivity test frameworkin the mobile device, so that new tests could be added later for examplein the form of new plug-in modules. Such plug-in modules could beprovided for instance in the form of software updates.

The wireless access network can use any networking technology that issuited to provide a connection to the Internet or to employ browserauthentication. It can be for instance a WLAN, an IP passthrough or aBluetooth™ Personal Area Network (PAN).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of elements of the system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 a to 3 n are a sequence of presentations on a displayillustrating a first operation in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a chart illustrating the first operation in the system of FIG.1;

FIGS. 5 a to 5 n are a sequence of presentations on a displayillustrating a second operation in the system of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating the second operation in the system ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 7 a to 7 h are a sequence of presentations on a displayillustrating a third operation in the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a chart illustrating the third operation in the system of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system, 10 in which animproved Internet access via a wireless access network can beimplemented according to an embodiment of the invention.

The system comprises a mobile terminal 100. The mobile terminal 100 isable to access a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) network310. In addition, it is able to access IEEE 802.11 based WLANs, forinstance an open WLAN 320, a public WLAN 330 requiring a browserauthentication or a private WLAN 340. Each of these networks 310, 320,330, 340 may provide an access to the Internet 350. The access that isprovided by private WLAN 340, however, is limited to a specified groupof mobile terminal, which does not include mobile terminal 100. Themobile terminal 100 may thus use either the WCDMA network 310 or one ofthe other WLANs 320, 330 that is available at its current location forretrieving e-mails from the Internet 350, for using Instant Messaging,for viewing Web-pages, etc. It is to be understood that the mobileterminal 100 may also be able to access any other type of wirelessaccess network, which may or may not provide a connection to theInternet 350. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, themobile terminal 100 supports an Internet connectivity test service.

In addition, the system comprises an Internet connectivity test server200 in the Internet 350.

Some details of the system are presented in FIG. 2.

The mobile terminal 100 comprises a user interface 110, including atleast input keys and a display. Further, it comprises a processor 120that is adapted to execute software code installed in the mobileterminal 100. The software code comprises for instance software code fora variety of applications including an e-mail client 121 and an InstantMessaging client 122. Further, the software code comprises software codefor a browser client 123, for a WLAN component 124 and for an operatingsystem or platform 125 of the mobile terminal 100. The WLAN component124 includes a test protocol for the Internet connectivity test service.The applications 121, 122, 123 and the WLAN component 124 are linked tothe user interface 110. In addition, the applications 121, 122, 123 arelinked to the WLAN component 124. The applications 121, 122, 123 and theWLAN component 124 run on top of an operating system or platform 125.

It is to be understood that the mobile terminal 100 comprises variousother components not shown, including a WCDMA transceiver enablingtransmissions to and receptions from the WCDMA network 310 and a WLANtransceiver enabling transmissions to and receptions from the WLANs 320,330, 340.

The Internet connectivity test server 200 comprises a processor 210 thatis adapted to execute software code installed in the Internetconnectivity test server 200. The software code includes testingsoftware code 211 with an HTTP server component 212 and a UDP servercomponent 213. Both servers 212, 213 can be addressed by a particularport number of the Internet connectivity test server 200.

It is to be understood that the Internet connectivity test server 200may also comprise various other components not shown.

A first exemplary operation in the system of FIG. 1 will now beexplained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIGS. 3 a to 3 n are asequence of presentations on the display of the mobile terminal 100.FIG. 4 is a chart illustrating an associated signal exchange between themobile terminal 100 and the Internet connectivity test server 200 viathe open WLAN 320.

In the mobile terminal 100, Instant Messaging is currently bound to the“Internet” destination network and 25 running over WCDMA.

In FIG. 3 a, a user has called the main menu of the mobile terminal 100and selects the menu item “messaging” in order to get to a messagingmenu.

In FIG. 3 b, the user launches the e-mail client 121 by selecting theitem “e-mail” from the messaging menu, in order to enter the e-mailapplication.

In FIG. 3 c, a list of e-mails is presented which are waiting fordownload from a mailbox provided by some e-mail server in the Internet350. The user selects the first e-mail for downloaded.

In FIG. 3 d, the user is asked by a pop-up window whether a connectionto the mailbox is to be established. The user selects the option “yes”,which is associated to one of the softkeys of the mobile terminal 100.

The e-mail client 121 is configured to “always ask” which connection iscurrently to be used.

The connection selection is managed by the operating system or platform125. Triggered by the e-mail client 121, the operating system orplatform 125 is therefore informed upon request by the availablecommunication components which connection methods are currentlyavailable. It is informed for instance by the WLAN component 124 thatthree WLAN networks are available at the current location. As indicatedin FIG. 4, the operating system or platform 125 now causes the userinterface 110 to ask the user to select a connection (step 401).

In FIG. 3 e, the user is thus asked to select the “Search WLAN”functionality, an Internet connection or an Intranet connection.

The options ‘Internet’ and ‘Intranet’ refer to destination networks,where the user expects a certain application server to be available.‘Internet’ can be understood as a prioritized list of ‘connectionmethods’ that provide a connection to the application servers at thepublic Internet. The connection methods might include for example a homeWLAN connection, a public WLAN hotspot connection and a cellular packetdata connection to the Internet. Similarly, ‘Intranet’ may be understoodas a prioritized list of connection methods by which the mobile terminal100 can reach application servers at an enterprise Intranet. The listmight include for example direct campus WLAN connections, dial-upconnections to an enterprise dial-up server and VPN connections overpublic Internet.

The user selects the “Search WLAN” option.

The user selection is provided by the user interface 110 to theoperating system or platform 125, which informs the WLAN component 124accordingly (step 402).

The WLAN component 124 now causes the user interface 110 to present alist of selectable WLANs to the user.

In FIG. 3 f, the user is thus asked to select one of three available,listed WLANs, including, by way of example, a WLAN called “BurgerWLAN”,a WLAN called “CoffeeSpot” and a WLAN called “TampereCity”. The userselects the last WLAN in the list.

The WLAN component 124 interprets this selection as a selection of anassociated Service Set Identifier (SSID), as illustrated in FIG. 4 (step403). The SSID is a network name defined for an IEEE 802.11 basedwireless access network.

The WLAN component 124 now establishes a connection to an access pointof the selected WLAN 320 (step 404).

The connection is not yet indicated to the e-mail client 121, though.Instead, the WLAN component 124 first runs an Internet connectivity testprotocol. In the meantime, a pop-up window indicating “Testing Internetconnectivity” may be shown with an option to skip the testing, asillustrated in FIG. 3 g.

In the scope of the Internet connectivity test protocol, the WLANcomponent 124 transmits a predetermined HTTP request and a predeterminedUDP request which are addressed to a respective port of the Internetconnectivity test server 200 (steps 405, 406).

The selected WLAN 320 is an open WLAN which does not require any browserauthentication. Both requests are therefore simply forwarded by the WLAN320 to the Internet connectivity test server 200.

Upon receipt of the predetermined HTTP request, the HTTP server 212 ofthe Internet connectivity test server 200 generates a predetermined HTTPresponse and transmits this response via the WLAN 320 to the mobileterminal 100 (step 407).

Upon receipt of the predetermined UDP request, the UDP server 213 of theInternet connectivity test server 200 generates a predetermined UDPresponse and transmits this response via the WLAN 320 to the mobileterminal 100 (step 408).

When the WLAN component 124 receives a HTTP response, it determineswhether the response corresponds to a predetermined HTTP response, whichis known to originate from an Internet connectivity test server. If thisis the case, the WLAN component 124 knows that a browser authenticationis not required (step 409).

When the WLAN component 124 receives a UDP response, it determineswhether the response corresponds to a predetermined UDP response, whichis known to originate from an Internet connectivity test server. If thisis the case, the WLAN component 124 knows that the addressed UDP portresponded and that a connection to the Internet 350 has been established(step 410).

The WLAN component 124 now instructs the user interface 110 to informthe user by means of a pop-up window that a connection to the Internet350 has been established and to ask whether the connection is to besaved for further use. FIG. 3 h presents a corresponding presentation onthe display. The user may choose to save the connection by selecting a“yes” option associated to one of the softkeys of the mobile terminal100. The WLAN component 124 is informed about the selection.

In case the connection is to be saved, the WLAN component 124 saves theconnection by creating a WLAN Internet Access Point (IAP), which is aconnection profile for this network, and by associating it to theInternet destination network (step 411). This means that the next timethe mobile terminal 100 is in the coverage area of this WLAN and it isasked to establish a connection to the ‘Internet’ destination, themobile terminal 100 can automatically select this new WLAN connectionmethod. The mobile terminal 100 might select some other connectionmethod instead, if this new connection method is not available or if ahigher-priority connection method is available. The WLAN IAP may recordthe fact that browser authentication was not required in this network.This information may later be used in automatic roaming decisions as anindication that it is appropriate to roam to this network in thebackground, since no user interaction is required to establish theconnection. The WLAN component 124 causes the user interface 110 toinform the user about the saved connection.

In FIG. 3 i, the user is informed by a pop-up window of a short durationthat the connection method has been saved to ‘Internet’. In addition,the WLAN component 124 informs the e-mail client 121 that a connectionto the Internet 350 has been established (step 412).

In addition, the WLAN component 124 informs the e-mail client 121 that aconnection to the Internet 350 has been established (step 412).

The e-mail client 121 may now retrieve the requested e-mail using theestablished Internet connection via the WLAN 320.

FIG. 3 j shows that the user is informed by a further pop-up windowinitiated by the e-mail client 121 that the requested e-mail is beingretrieved.

The email is finally presented on the display, as shown in FIG. 3 k.

In parallel, the Instant Messaging client 122 roams from the WCDMAnetwork 310 to the “TampereCity” WLAN 320 for accessing the Internet350. The roaming is performed automatically, since the Instant Messagingclient 122 is bound to the “Internet” as a destination network, and theInternet Connectivity Test has detected that WLAN 320 providesconnectivity to the Internet.

FIG. 3 l shows a display with an ongoing Instant Messaging. Upon theautomatic roaming to the new connection from the WCDMA network 310, apop-up window is presented on the display, as shown in FIG. 3 m, whichindicates to the user that the mobile terminal 100 is connecting to the“Internet” via the WLAN 320 “TampereCity”. Once the connection has beenestablished, the preceding Instant Messaging presentation is displayedagain, as shown in FIG. 3 n.

A second exemplary operation in the system of FIG. 1 will now beexplained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIGS. 5 a to 5 n are asequence of presentations on the display of the mobile terminal 100.FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating an associated signal exchange between themobile terminal 100 and the Internet connectivity test server 200 viathe public WLAN 330.

In the mobile terminal 100, the e-mail client 121 is 5 currently boundto the “Internet” destination network and running over WCDMA.

In FIG. 5 a, a user has called the main menu of the mobile terminal 100and selects the menu item “IM” in order to launch the Instant Messagingclient 122.

The Instant Messaging client 122 provides thereupon an Instant Messagingmenu for presentation. In FIG. 5 b, the user selects the item“conversation” from the Instant Messaging menu, in order to enter anInstant Messaging conversation.

In FIG. 5 c, a list of conversational partners is presented. The userselects the first conversational partners “Anna”.

The Instant Messaging client 122 is configured to “always ask” whichconnection is currently to be used.

Triggered by the Instant Messaging client 122, the operating system orplatform 125 is therefore informed upon request by the availablecommunication components which connection methods are currentlyavailable. It is informed for instance by the WLAN component 124 thatthree WLAN networks are available at the current location. As indicatedin FIG. 6, the operating system or platform 125 now causes the userinterface 110 to ask the user to select a connection (step 601).

In FIG. 5 d, the user is thus asked to select the “Search WLAN”functionality, an Internet connection or an Intranet connection. Theuser selects the “Search WLAN” option.

The user selection is provided by the user interface 110 to theoperating system or platform 125, which informs the WLAN component 124accordingly (step 602).

The WLAN component 124 now causes the user interface 110 to present alist of selectable WLANs to the user.

In FIG. 5 e, the user is thus asked to select one of three available,listed WLANs, including again, by way of example, a WLAN called“BurgerWLAN”, a WLAN called “CoffeeSpot” and a WLAN called“TampereCity”. The user selects the “CoffeeSpot” WLAN.

The WLAN component 124 interprets this selection as a selection of anassociated Service Set Identifier (SSID), as illustrated in FIG. 6 (step603).

The WLAN component 124 now establishes a connection to the access pointof the selected WLAN 330 (step 604).

The connection is not yet indicated to the Instant Messaging client,though.

Instead, the WLAN component 124 first runs the Internet connectivitytest protocol. In this scope, it transmits the predetermined HTTPrequest and the predetermined UDP request to the Internet connectivitytest server 200 (step 605).

The selected WLAN 330 is a public WLAN, which provides access to theInternet 350 but which demands to this end a browser authentication.

A local access controller of the WLAN 330 therefore intercepts the HTTPand UDP requests and pushes a logon page to the mobile terminal 100(step 606).

The logon page is provided to the mobile terminal 100 in a HTTP responsemessage (step 607).

When the WLAN component 124 receives the HTTP response, it determineswhether the response corresponds to the predetermined HTTP response,which is known to originate from an Internet connectivity test server.If this is not the case, the WLAN component 124 knows that a browserauthentication is required (step 608).

The WLAN component 124 forwards the HTTP logon page to the browserclient 123. The browser client 123 presents the logon page on thedisplay for enabling the user to perform a manual browser logon (step610). During the browser logon, the WLAN component 124 may record theactions of the user in a logon script, possibly after having inquiredwhether the user desires such a recording (step 609).

In FIG. 5 f, the logon page is presented in a pop-up browser window. Thebrowser window enables the user to enter a username and a password. Whenboth have been entered, the user may select a “LOGIN” option tocontinue.

During the browser authentication process, the WLAN component 124continues transmitting the predetermined UDP request to the Internetconnectivity test server (steps 611, 613). As long as the browserauthentication has not been completed, the local access controller ofthe WLAN 330 simply drops the received UDP requests (steps 612, 614).

When the browser authentication has been successfully completed (step615), the browser client 123 informs the user accordingly by a HTTP pageindicating that the authentication was successful. The user is furtherrequested to select a “close window” option to continue, as indicated inFIG. 5 g. Alternatively, the window could be left in the foregroundwhile running the Internet Connectivity test and later, once the UDPtest has succeeded, the browser window could be automatically moved tothe background so that the Instant Messaging application comes to theforeground again.

A pop-up window indicating “Testing Internet connectivity” may be shownagain during the testing procedure, as illustrated in FIG. 5 h. Thiswindow may be omitted during the entire browser authentication, though.

The next predetermined UDP request from the WLAN component 214 is nowforwarded by the local access controller of the WLAN 330 to the Internet350 so that it reaches the addressed Internet connectivity test server200 (step 616).

Upon receipt of the predetermined UDP request, the UDP server 213 of theInternet connectivity test server 200 generates the predetermined UDPresponse and transmits this response via the WLAN 330 to the mobileterminal 100 (step 617).

When the WLAN component 124 receives a UDP response, it determineswhether the response corresponds to a predetermined UDP response, whichis known to originate from an Internet connectivity test server. If thisis the case, the WLAN component 124 knows that the addressed UDP portresponded and that a connection to the Internet 350 has been established(step 618).

The WLAN component 124 now instructs the user interface 110 to informthe user by means of a pop-up window that a connection to the Internet350 has been established and to ask whether the connection is to besaved for further use. FIG. 5 i presents the corresponding presentationon the display. The user may choose to save the connection by selectinga “yes” option associated to one of the softkeys of the mobile terminal100. The WLAN component 124 is informed about the selection.

In case the connection is to be saved, the WLAN component 124 saves theconnection by creating a WLAN IAP and by associating it to the Internetdestination network (step 619). The WLAN IAP comprises the informationthat a browser authentication is required for this specific connection.In addition, a login script is included, in case the user actions duringthe browser authentication have been recorded.

The WLAN component 124 causes the user interface 110 to inform the userabout the saved connection.

In FIG. 5 j, the user is informed by a pop-up window of a short durationthat the connection method has been saved to ‘Internet’.

In addition, the WLAN component 124 informs the Instant Messaging client122 that a connection to the Internet 350 has been established (step620).

The user may now continue with the Instant Messaging using theestablished Internet connection via the WLAN, as indicated in FIG. 5 k.

In parallel, the e-mail client 121 roams from the WCDMA network 310 tothe “CoffeSpot” WLAN 330 for accessing the Internet 350. The roaming isperformed automatically, since the e-mail client 121 is bound to the“Internet” as a destination network, and the Internet Connectivity Testhas now detected that WLAN 330 provides connectivity to the Internet.

FIG. 5 l shows a list of new e-mails that are available for a download.Upon the automatic roaming to the new connection, a pop-up window ispresented on the display, as shown in FIG. 5 m. The window indicates tothe user that the mobile terminal 100 is connecting to the “Internet”via the WLAN 330 “CoffeeSpot”. Once the connection has been established,the preceding e-mail window is shown again, as indicated in FIG. 5 n.

A third exemplary operation in the system of FIG. 1 will now beexplained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIGS. 7 a to 7 h are asequence of presentations on the display of the mobile terminal 100.FIG. 8 is a chart illustrating an associated signal exchange between themobile terminal 110 and a private WLAN 340.

In FIG. 7 a, a user has called the main menu of the mobile terminal 100and selects the menu item “Web” in order to launch the browser client123.

The browser client 123 provides thereupon a list of bookmarks. In FIG. 7b, the list of bookmarks is presented. The user selects the item “MyWidget Configuration” from the list, in order to connect to a web-basedconfiguration interface of an electronic appliance. The web-link that isassociated to the bookmark is indicated at the bottom of the display.

The browser client 123 is configured to “always ask”, which connectionis currently to be used for accessing a selected Internet page.

Triggered by the browser client 123, the operating system or platform125 is therefore informed upon request by the available communicationcomponents which connection methods are currently available. It isinformed for instance by the WLAN component 124 that three WLAN networksare available at the current location. As indicated in FIG. 8, theoperating system or platform 125 now causes the user interface 110 toask the user to select a connection (step 801).

In FIG. 7 c, the user is thus asked to select the “Search WLAN”functionality, an Internet connection or an Intranet connection. Theuser selects the “Search WLAN” option.

The user selection is provided by the user interface 110 to theoperating system or platform 125, which informs the WLAN component 124accordingly (step 802).

The WLAN component 124 now causes the user interface 110 to present alist of selectable WLANs to the user.

In FIG. 7 d, the user is thus asked to select one of three available,listed WLANs, including, by way of example, a WLAN called “Onkiniemi”, aWLAN called “Rudolph” and a WLAN called “Xo2005”. The user selects thelast WLAN in the list.

The WLAN component 124 interprets this selection as a selection of anassociated Service Set Identifier (SSID), as indicated in FIG. 8 (step803).

The WLAN component 124 now establishes a connection to the access pointof the selected WLAN 340 (step 804).

The connection is not yet indicated to the browser client 123, though.Instead, the WLAN component 124 first runs an Internet connectivity testprotocol. In the meantime, a pop-up window indicating “Testing Internetconnectivity” may be shown with an option to skip the testing, asillustrated in FIG. 7 e.

In the scope of the Internet connectivity test protocol, the WLANcomponent 124 transmits a predetermined HTTP request and a predeterminedUDP request which are addressed to a respective port of the Internetconnectivity test server 200 (steps 805, 807).

As the WLAN 340 is a private WLAN, which only provides an access to aprivate and unconnected network, both requests are not forwarded to theglobal Internet 350 by the WLAN 340 (steps 806, 808). Alternatively, alocal access controller of the WLAN 340 could respond to the HTTPrequest with some local box in a pop-up window of the mobile terminal100, which is dismissed by the user.

The WLAN component 124 thus receives no response to its requests. Itcontinues transmitting requests (steps 809, 811), which are dropped bythe local access controller of the WLAN 340 (steps 810, 812), until atimer runs out or until the user selects the skip option (step 813). TheWLAN component 124 assumes that a connection to the Internet 350 via theselected WLAN 340 is not possible.

The WLAN component 124 now prompts for a destination network (step 814).That is, the user is asked to instruct the mobile terminal 100 to whichdestination network the new connection belongs. If there are otherapplications connected to the same destination, they could then roam tothis new connection. The user may be provided for the instruction forinstance with a list comprising the Internet, an Intranet, an operatorservice or other networks for a presentation on the display, asindicated in FIG. 7 f. Further, a selection option could be provided forthe case that the user does not care which kind of connection isestablished.

The WLAN component 124 is informed about the selection and processes theselected connection in a conventional way without any help from theInternet connectivity test service (step 815).

The WLAN component 124 now instructs the user interface 110 to informthe user by means of a pop-up window that a connection to the WLANnetwork “Xo2005” 340 has been established and to ask whether theconnection is to be saved for further use. FIG. 7 g presents acorresponding presentation on the display. The user may choose not tosave the connection by selecting a “no” option associated to one of thesoftkeys of the mobile terminal 100. The WLAN component 124 is informedabout the selection.

In addition, the WLAN component 124 informs the browser client 123 thata connection has been established (step 815).

The browser client 123 accesses thereupon the selected Web-site usingthe established WLAN connection and presents the provided HTML page tothe user, as indicated in FIG. 7 h.

Summarized, the presented exemplary embodiment of the invention enablesa mobile terminal to detect when it has connectivity to the publicInternet, to detect whether browser authentication is required and todetect when browser authentication has been successfully completed.

Since the mobile terminal can automatically detect connectivity to thepublic Internet, new connections can be indicated to applications orclients at the right time. Further, previously unknown WLAN connectionscan be used for roaming. The browser authentication is equallysimplified, since the mobile terminal knows when it is required. Theusability of the mobile terminal is improved by reducing userinteraction with the mobile terminal and by enabling automatic browserauthentication with recorded scripts.

It is to be noted that the described embodiment constitutes only one ofa variety of possible embodiments of the invention.

1. A method comprising: generating, by a mobile terminal, at least onepredetermined request, which predetermined request is addressed to aconnectivity test server providing a test service in a destinationnetwork, and transmitting said at least one predetermined request to awireless access network; and determining, by said mobile terminal,whether a response to said at least one predetermined request isreceived from said wireless access network and whether a receivedresponse corresponds to a predetermined response which is known to beprovided by said connectivity test server in case said connectivity testserver is reached by said at least one predetermined request, whereinreception of a non-predetermined response to said at least onepredetermined request indicates a possibly required user interaction ofa user of said mobile terminal with said wireless access network; andinitiating, by said mobile terminal, a user interaction in the case ofreceipt of the non-predetermined response.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, wherein reception of the non-predetermined response to said atleast one predetermined request indicates a required user interaction ofa user of said mobile terminal with said wireless access network.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said at least one predeterminedrequest is transmitted to the wireless access network via a WLANtransceiver of the mobile terminal, the WLAN transceiver enablingtransmissions to and receptions from a WLAN and the mobile terminalfurther comprising a WCDMA transceiver enabling transmissions to andreceptions from a WCDMA network.
 4. The method according to claim 1comprising one of: presenting the received non-predetermined response tothe user; and presenting a logon page to the user.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein one of: the wireless access network isconfigured to provide access to the destination network after a browserauthentication; and the destination network is the Internet and whereinthe wireless access network is a WLAN which is configured to provideaccess to the Internet after a browser authentication.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said wireless access network is unknown tosaid mobile terminal.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein saidaccess to said destination network is requested by an application orclient of said mobile terminal and wherein reception of a predeterminedresponse to said at least one predetermined request is considered toindicate a connection to said destination network, said method furthercomprising informing said application or client about said connection tosaid destination network.
 8. The method according to claim 7, furthercomprising saving said connection for further use, optionally uponconfirmation by a user.
 9. The method according to claim 1, whereinapplications or clients of said mobile terminal accessing saiddestination network via another connection roam to said connection foraccessing said destination network in response to reception of apredetermined response to said at least one predetermined request. 10.The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one predeterminedrequest comprises at least two predetermined requests, and wherein incase a non-predetermined response to a first one of said at least twopredetermined requests indicates a possibly required user interaction ofa user of said mobile terminal with said wireless access network, saidmethod further comprising retransmitting a second one of said at leasttwo predetermined requests, a detection of a predetermined response tosaid second one of said at least two predetermined requests being anindication of a successfully completed user interaction.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising recording the userinteractions in a script, optionally upon confirmation by a user.
 12. Amobile terminal comprising a transceiver configured for wirelesscommunications, a processor, a memory, and software code, the softwarecode and the memory configured to, with the processor, cause the mobileterminal to generate at least one predetermined request, whichpredetermined request is addressed to a connectivity test serverproviding a test service in a destination network, and to provide saidat least one predetermined request for transmission to a wireless accessnetwork via the transceiver; the software code and the memory configuredto, with the processor, cause the mobile terminal to determine whether aresponse to a transmitted at least one predetermined request is receivedfrom said wireless access network and whether a received responsecorresponds to a predetermined response which is known to be provided bysaid connectivity test server in case said connectivity test server isreached by said at least one predetermined request, wherein reception ofa non-predetermined response to said at least one predetermined requestindicates a possibly required user interaction of a user of said mobileterminal with said wireless access network; and the software code andthe memory configured to, with the processor, cause the mobile terminalto initiate a user interaction in the case of receipt of thenon-predetermined response.
 13. The mobile terminal according to claim12, wherein reception of the non-predetermined response to said at leastone predetermined request indicates a required user interaction of auser of said mobile terminal with said wireless access network.
 14. Themobile terminal according to claim 12, wherein the transceiver is a WLANtransceiver enabling transmissions to and receptions from a WLAN, themobile terminal further comprising a WCDMA transceiver enablingtransmissions to and receptions from a WCDMA network.
 15. The mobileterminal according to claim 12, wherein the software code and the memoryare configured to, with the processor, cause the mobile terminal to oneof: present the received non-predetermined response to the user; andpresent a logon page to the user.
 16. The mobile terminal according toclaim 12, wherein one of: the wireless access network is configured toprovide access to the destination network after a browserauthentication; and the destination network is the Internet and whereinthe wireless access network is a WLAN which is configured to provideaccess to the Internet after a browser authentication.
 17. The mobileterminal according to claim 12, wherein said wireless access network isunknown to said mobile terminal.
 18. The mobile terminal according toclaim 12, wherein the software code and the memory are furtherconfigured to, with the processor, cause the mobile terminal to considerreception of a predetermined response to said at least one predeterminedrequest to indicate a connection to said destination network.
 19. Themobile terminal according to claim 12, wherein said access to saiddestination network is requested by an application or client of saidmobile terminal, wherein reception of a predetermined response to saidat least one predetermined request is considered to indicate aconnection to said destination network, and wherein the software codeand the memory are further configured to, with the processor, cause themobile terminal to inform said application or client about saidconnection to said destination network.
 20. The mobile terminalaccording to claim 19, wherein the software code and the memory arefurther configured to, with the processor, cause the mobile terminal tosave said connection for further use, optionally upon confirmation by auser.
 21. The mobile terminal according to claim 19, whereinapplications or clients of said mobile terminal accessing saiddestination network via another connection are configured to roam tosaid connection for accessing said destination network in response toreception of a predetermined response to said at least one predeterminedrequest.
 22. The mobile terminal according to claim 12, wherein said atleast one predetermined request comprises at least two predeterminedrequests, the software code and the memory being further configured to,with the processor, cause the mobile terminal to retransmit a second oneof said at least two predetermined requests in case a non-predeterminedresponse to a first one of said at least two predetermined requestsindicates a possibly required user interaction of a user of said mobileterminal with said wireless access network, a detection of apredetermined response to said second one of said at least twopredetermined requests being an indication of a successfully completeduser interaction.
 23. The mobile terminal according to claim 22, whereinthe software code and the memory are further configured to, with theprocessor, cause the mobile terminal to record said user interactions ina script, optionally upon confirmation by a user.
 24. A non-transitoryreadable medium storing software code, the software code causing amobile terminal to perform the following when executed by a processor ofthe mobile terminal: generate at least one predetermined request, whichpredetermined request is addressed to a connectivity test serverproviding a test service in a destination network, and provide said atleast one predetermined request for transmission to a wireless accessnetwork; determine whether a response to said at least one predeterminedrequest is received from said wireless access network and whether areceived response corresponds to a predetermined response which is knownto be provided by said connectivity test server in case saidconnectivity test server is reached by said at least one predeterminedrequest, wherein reception of a non-predetermined response to said atleast one predetermined request indicates a possibly required userinteraction of a user of said mobile terminal with said wireless accessnetwork; and initiate a user interaction in the case of receipt of thenon-predetermined response.
 25. The non-transitory readable mediumaccording to claim 24, wherein reception of the non-predeterminedresponse to said at least one predetermined request indicates a requireduser interaction of a user of said mobile terminal with said wirelessaccess network.
 26. The non-transitory readable medium according toclaim 24, wherein the at least one predetermined request is provided fortransmission via a WLAN transceiver of the mobile terminal, the WLANtransceiver enabling transmissions to and receptions from a WLAN and themobile terminal further comprising a WCDMA transceiver enablingtransmissions to and receptions from a WCDMA network.
 27. Thenon-transitory readable medium according to claim 24, wherein thesoftware code, when executed by the processor of the mobile terminal,causes the mobile terminal to one of: present the receivednon-predetermined response to the user; and present a logon page to theuser.
 28. The non-transitory readable medium according to claim 24,wherein one of: the wireless access network is configured to provideaccess to the destination network after a browser authentication; andthe destination network is the Internet and wherein the wireless accessnetwork is a WLAN which is configured to provide access to the Internetafter a browser authentication.
 29. The non-transitory readable mediumaccording to claim 24, wherein the software code, when executed by theprocessor of the mobile terminal, causes the mobile terminal to recordsaid user interactions in a script, optionally upon confirmation by auser.